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1javelin
GIANT SMALLIE!!!!
Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 180
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 Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:50 pm Post subject: Tournament research |
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I did a little figuring around here the last couple of days, and these are the figures I came up with.
Entry: 1st place: return per dollar:
BBT $110 $1600 $14.55
BFL $200 $3700 $18.50
Stren $825 $25000 $30.30
I'm no scientist by any means, but I would much rather fish stronger competition and force myself to get better, and have a heftier reward for my efforts. Not to mention you don't have a few fisherman that have been fishing the same lake for years and have every fish patterned for the one day events. I'm seriously thinking about trying to fish the Stren next year, but I will have to sit back and do some recruiting this fall and winter, and definitely hone in on some big fish skills. I know I could do it, now just is it going to be too hard for me to do with work? We'll see
1Jav
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tarheel_bk
Blue Gill
Joined: 26 May 2008
Posts: 21
Location: Otsego, MI
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| Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:36 am Post subject: |
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| Where does the Stren fish and what is required to participate? I have not heard much about that. I don't know about any one else(and I know the ultimate goal is first place)but I would also want to know what they do for the top 10 or 15, whatever the rundown is for payment. If first gets all the money, its not worth the investment for one winner take all, so to speak.
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1javelin
GIANT SMALLIE!!!!
Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 180
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| Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:03 am Post subject: |
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On a 200 boat field they pay 50 spots. Results on a 161 boat field show 44 spots being paid with $702. 30th position earned $1031, which doesn't cover the cost of tourney plus gas, but it helps. The way I figure it with gas, camping, pre-fishing, license, food, and entry fee, you are looking somewhere around $1400 per tournament, a couple hundred more if you run a full tank each day which is possible, so you would need to come in the top 20 on a 161 field to get your money back. I call that reasonable and do-able. BBT, 82 boats fished, and with gas, prefishing, camping, food, entry fee, you are looking around $350 or so, maybe more if you come as far as I do from Indiana, so you would need to finish 5th. Not out of reach there either, but you quadruple your chances and only double the field. I like that. The real money is if you are running FLW products, like Ranger boat, etc... I'm not in much of that stuff at all, running a Javelin with a Johnson, Minn Kota trolling and Eagle electronics. A good check could change that though. Just tell me it makes sense, that's all I am looking for. I am going ot squash most of the tournament year in exchange for a faster learning curve, and saving to stack up some more tackle. I need rods and reels bad, as the few I have won't go far. And tackle tackle tackle.
1Jav
http://stren.flwoutdoors.com/tournament.cfm?cid=3&did=0&t=results
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Squad Minnow
GIANT SMALLIE!!!!
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 172
Location: St. Joseph, Michigan
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| Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:37 am Post subject: |
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1Jav,
I know that you want more competition and a larger payback but I will say that you will want to be on top of the leader board locally because when you start fishing with the heavy hitters you will most likely donate some of your money. Sure the payouts are higher but remember the competition is also there, sure you only are fishing against the fish so if you can figure them out then you should do well. Remember that most of the guys that fish (prefish) for 3-5 days prior and with gas at $4 per gallon and most lakes 6 hours min. away you have to do some serious math to see if it is in your best interest. |
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1javelin
GIANT SMALLIE!!!!
Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 180
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| Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:45 am Post subject: |
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I've already thought it through Rich, and if the money is there, I will be going. If not, I'll fish some local BFL or something, but I would be willing to give up some time at work to learn what I'm doing out there, and I know I can do it. The finances are the key, which is why I plan on talking to a few people this fall and see if I can get a little help. Probably won't happen as I am not a great speaker, don't have much experience, and haven't been in it long, but I will give it a try. I'm not saying it is going to happen, but it would be worth it if I could get to it. Why don't you throw me a bunch of Loomis rods and some Chronarch MG50 reels, a couple dozen tackle bags and boxes full ,and we'll go fishing!!! Just joking, but I do think it will be a goal I would like to get at, and before gas goes much higher would be better. We'll see.
1Jav
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Squad Minnow
GIANT SMALLIE!!!!
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 172
Location: St. Joseph, Michigan
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| Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:52 am Post subject: |
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1Jav,
I think that you will do fine but do not get discouraged.
see my post on the other site you just posted on.
Rich |
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TCook
GIANT SMALLIE!!!!
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 168
Location: benton harbor
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| Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:59 am Post subject: |
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I would say the BFL's make alot of sence to fish for a few years as starters with the larger tournaments. With the BFL's as a boater I would expect to spend $1000 a tournament even with a travel partner splitting most costs. Also keep in mind that all these waters would be new to you and maximum amount of practice days (5-7 full days) would be needed to find fish and have a chance to compete, which very possibly would take years to figure out the massive bodies of water that the BFL fishes. Personally if I had a boat I would not even think about fishing a stren event unless I was succesful in the BFL's. Its like baseball BFL=double A, Stren=triple A, FLW=majors, I would prefer to work my way up. If you feel that you would want to make this leap to just simply speed up the learning curve then fish as a non-boater and pay attention to everything that goes on, thats exactly what I am doing this year as you know.
T
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fishman01
GIANT SMALLIE!!!!
Joined: 14 Feb 2007
Posts: 137
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:07 am Post subject: |
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| Ok to give you guys a little better idea, BFL is a p.o.s. lol They might try to pay well but you have to win a lot to cover expenses, not worth it at all in the Michigan Division. Second, the Stren if you go totally cheap will cost about 2200-2500 bucks a tournament and thats as cheap as you can go. Gas is expensive! If you want to win you have to travel and that takes a lot of gas and the gas to the tournaments alone is about 500 bucks just to get there and back plus a lot in the boat, at least 100 bucks a day if you are prefishing correctly. It's not a cheap sport at all, it's the step below the big show. |
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skeeterman190
Large"MOUTH" Bass
Joined: 14 Feb 2008
Posts: 58
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Im not going to chime in on this subject too much because ill end up getting kicked off the site and people will think less of me. Ill hit a few topics and not go any further than that. Firstly im not a rocket scientist or mathematician but the BAU is going broke! from what ive heard and seen they dont pull enough baots to push out what theyre paying in the end! If so let me talk to that guys tax man. BBt is decent but it seems as though they make a pretty penny off of us also. I know theres no fee for the classic but come on 2000 grand?? I know if were in this to make money were pretty much all s.o.l. Blame all the tree huggers out there for our great gas prices. (this might get sticky) but im a firm believer in boycotting foreign oil for 1 year and see what the price of a barrel goes too!!! weve got plenty of resources to make that happen for the rest of our lives!(sorry thats just a little of my rage on things) trust me i have more but ill leave it at that! BFL p.o.s i guess if you say so ill pretty much guarantee they'll have the best turnouts this year. 123 boats at burt and mullet?? people at least want a chance at getting there money back or getting something out of it to ease the pain 9th place 650 that will help out a little. Id rather get 9th and 650 by myself then 3rd and 525 to split with someone.(and 9th isnt usually 23 pounds) im gonna quit while im somewhat ahead but this sport is turning into a rich mans game! im 25 and want to be doing this for a long time ahead but right now im just looking at my best options and working the most overtime to make my life easy and enjoyable on the water. you never fish at your finest when your stressed on money or anything else. put all your eggs in one basket no matter what and dont blow your money on the rest of the rink dink deals!-skeeterman- |
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bronzeback6
Site Admin
Joined: 22 Jan 2007
Posts: 659
Location: Bridgman, MI
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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I hope you do well Jav1  But there are people that are married and have kids or their jobs wont allow them to take the time off to fish the BIG stuff. Trust me when I say they are fine fisherman. In my opinion we need organizations that have small tournaments on local water because thats the only place a lot of anglers I know can compete for money. Rich hit it on the nail on the head when he said you need to cut your teeth on the local trail first. If you feel you've done that than take your shot, you can do it. But have you ever seen the movie Rounders? If you have than trust me when I say fishing the big Events is a lot like playing cards with people that know their going to take your money. Bass fishing is gambling, the more you bet the more you can win.
Personally I enjoy fishing around here and winning a little money once in a while.
Justin
Justin |
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1javelin
GIANT SMALLIE!!!!
Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 180
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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Justin, I am in the same boat as you most of the time. I have a job that only allows me limited time away from work, so in order to do this I would have to be taking unpaid vacations. Not something my wife or job like to hear. But, along the lines of what Skeeterman said, most of these trails are junk. BAU, the guys running the division automatically get into the championship (NOT a stab at you Rich, an overall view). That's a joke. Not only that but you get cuts from the memberships. You chose to run it, fish for it. NBAA the same way. BBT has a good turnout, but 1600 if you win, to split? Not good enough for me. BFL, I may still do next year, even though I think it is one-sided and one-dimensional. Name one lake that will be won on largemouth? Name one of the final tournaments that isn't on the East-Side? One-sided. And $200 as a boater to win 3600??? How about throwing in another 600, winning another 22,000, and only spending a few more dollars in gas to get there! I get what you were saying about gas and prefishing John, but it's maybe $1000 more to fish the Stren per tournament, because honestly, who is going to fish St. Clair or Erie and not spend $100 a day in gas? All I did was drag mile roads on some shell beds we found, and still spent $60 in gas. That wasn't prefishing at all. I think Skeeterman hit it when he said it is becoming a rich man's sport. But, to play the game you have to sacrifice, and if that is what it takes, I will try my darndest to make it happen. I may not be that good, but I guarantee I will learn to be fast, or be humble enough to admit that I got in over my head.
1Jav
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Squad Minnow
GIANT SMALLIE!!!!
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 172
Location: St. Joseph, Michigan
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes, 9th on the BFL is great but; and I stress that word most of the guys in the top of the BFL compete and win on the local boards and spend plenty of time pre-fishing the water before the tournament. I would say that by far the money payback is there but also if your betting on being in the top 10 with those boys then you should be in the top 3 on the local scene? My point being is that with that added money in the pot also is the competition of anglers (which I personally love to fish against the top) but to plan on making the top 10 is a lot easier said than done. Justin, were the larger fish you caught on slow movement (deadsticking) on Magician? I was curious as the deeper fish (larger ones) were when I just let it sit. |
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Squad Minnow
GIANT SMALLIE!!!!
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 172
Location: St. Joseph, Michigan
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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Justin,
Did Jim tell you about the fish that I lost while I was getting out a tangle and gave up on it and started pulling in my line (4lb test) and watched a fish jump twice as I was pulling it in. That would have been a nice keeper to add to the pot, also we were discussing how in the elite series that they find a spot on the spot were all these fish are ganged up and we finally did find a spot like this on Magician. I am curious to continue to check this spot as it was a cut in the weed edge (Hummingbird 997) shows and upon fishing it we caught 2 nice largemouths on it as well as 3 Northern a Bluegill and I lost a 3lb smallie that followed my TN/70 to the boat and I stopped it and it hammered the back hook so I had it hooked right over the edge and it jumped and throw the bait. (ouch that was the one we needed that day) |
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fishman01
GIANT SMALLIE!!!!
Joined: 14 Feb 2007
Posts: 137
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| Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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| oh yeah the Stren on St. Clair is a good one. I thought you were talking about the whole series. You could do that one for a reasonable price, around what you think I would guess. |
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skeeterman190
Large"MOUTH" Bass
Joined: 14 Feb 2008
Posts: 58
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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| ok so ive been reading the post and agree you better be getting close to the top around your local areas before you set into something else. But then again you run into guys like Tad Hepler and that guy will beat you where ever you put the boat in the water. hes learned from the best and should compete with the best. I know he has a family and kids but somewhere down the road i look for him to break out. watch out when that happens. hes the best there is around this area. if you disagree with that than you are a fool!! whenever you show up and see him its a welcome site cause you know you have your work cut out for you. thats kinda how i look at anything else if im gonna make it in this deal i got to beat these guys. like i said before when this whole discussion is over im gonna lose my membership here so im gonna be good. the way it sounds your cutting on herman(1javelin) dont do that a man has his mind in the right place and its not to blow his hard earned money to someone or some oranization thats out to make a profit. i work hard for my money prolly hard then 99% of you and i put it in the right places its not out blowing 150 in gas on the truck and boat to fish against 6 local smokies that think there gods cause they can catch fish on magician lake!! ive been there like 5 times and aint one of you beat me enough to think im missing something. im going to quit cause by now im an as*hole. but this is kinda a heated topic .sory bout the rage guys -skeeterman- |
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